Rudd and Galifianakis Teaming Up for ‘Sunshine’ Directors and Ferrell/McKay
Zach Galifianakis and Paul Rudd
I guess it is time to put Dinner for Schmucks at the top our list of highly anticipated 2010 releases list, since two of the stars of that movie are looking to reteam in another high-profile project.
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Paul Rudd and Zach Galifianakis have signed for Will, a new comedy from Little Miss Sunshine directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s producing under the Gary Sanchez production shingle. The Paramount production is scripted by Demetri Martin. Galifianakis has a supporting role in the upcoming summer comedy Dinner for Schmucks, toplined by Rudd and Steve Carell and is capitalizing on his post-The Hangover buzz by busily lining up projects including the upcoming Due Date with Robert Downey Jr.
According to THR, “The story follows an ordinary guy (Rudd) who lives in a world where people’s lives and destinies are being written by scribes in Heaven. The man wakes up one day to find that his heavenly writer (Galifianakis) has decided to no longer draft his life, and he must go about his day unscripted, ending up on a journey to fulfill his hidden potential.”
The existential concept sounds a little bit like Bruce/Evan Almighty, which might be an indication why Steve Carell is not being tapped, despite having worked with all the principals in the past. Plus, one expects that Carell’s salary would be much higher than Galifianakis’. This also sounds like it has broader comedic elements than most of Rudd recent projects.
Good for Rudd! About time this guy gets the spotlight. Paul Rudd and Zach Galifianakis are now the hot commodities in the comedy business.
I actually read a leaked copy of this script back in ‘07 when it was featured on the Blacklist. I remember it being fairly heavy-handed. The main joke/motif/theme is a character named Will suddenly being given ‘freewill’, and it is layered on mighty thick. It becomes pretty repetitious and redundant at about 2/3 through the second act. But still — I’m liking all the names attached to this project and something tells me that in the time since I read that leaked draft, some punch-ups have been made to make this script a winner. There was some definite potential there. I’m looking forward to learning more about this!
sounds great! i’m seriously hoping for a Will Ferrel cameo to further cement Rudd’s Frat pack creds!
[...] addition to this summer’s Dinner for Schmucks, Rudd and Galifianakis have another comedy, Will, in the works as well. We haven’t heard much about that film lately, but could the two [...]
[...] their schedule open, entering Used Guys as another high-profile comedy duo-centered project, Will starring Paul Rudd and Zach Galifianakis, appears to have fallen apart due to Paramount Pictures’ [...]